Patron Saints
What is a patron saint?
Patron saints are chosen as special protectors or guardians over areas of life. These areas can include occupations, illnesses, churches, countries, causes -- anything that is important to us. The earliest records show that people and churches were named after apostles and martyrs as early as the fourth century.
Recently, the popes have named patron saints but patrons can be chosen by other individuals or groups as well. Patron saints are often chosen today because an interest, talent, or event in their lives overlaps with the special area.
Angels can also be named as patron saints. A patron saint can help us when we follow the example of that saint's life and when we ask for that saint's intercessory prayers to God.
For example, Francis of Assisi loved nature and so he is patron of ecologists. Francis de Sales was a writer and so he is patron of journalists and writers. Clare of Assisi was named patron of television because one Christmas when she was too ill to leave her bed she saw and heard Christmas Mass -- even though it was taking place miles away.
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| Dairy workers |
Bridgid of Ireland |
| Dalmatia |
Blaise |
| Dancers |
Vitus |
| Deacons |
Stephen |
| Deaf |
Francis de Sales |
| Death |
Michael the Archangel, Margaret (or Marina) of Antioch |
| Death, happy |
Joseph of Cupertino |
| Death, sudden |
Andrew Avellino |
| Degree candidates |
Joseph of Cupertino |
| Delaware, USA |
Our Lady of Mercy |
| Denmark |
Anskar |
| Dentists |
Apollonia |
| Desperate situations |
Jude, Gregory the Wonderworker, Rita of Cascia, Eustace |
| Detraction |
John Nepomucene |
| Diabolical possession |
Cyriacus, Dymphna |
| Difficult situations |
Eustace |
| Digne, France |
Vincent of Digne |
| Dijon |
Benignus of Dijon, Urban of Langres |
| Diocesan priests |
John of Avila |
| Diplomatic services |
Gabriel the Archangel |
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| Disabled |
Giles |
| Disasters |
Genevieve (Genofeva) |
| Diseases of the eye |
Raphael the Archangel, Lucy |
| Diseases, contagious |
Roch, Sebastian |
| Diseases, nervous |
Dymphna |
| Doctors |
Luke, Cosmas and Damian, Pantaleon |
| Domestic animals |
Antony the Abbot, Gerlac of Valkenburg |
| Domestic workers |
Zita |
| Dominican Republic |
Our Lady of Mercy |
| Doubters |
Joseph |
| Draguignan, France |
Rosalina of Villeneuve |
| Drought |
Genevieve (Genofeva) |
| Drought relief |
Herbert, Godeberta, Solange |
| Drowning, death or danger from |
Adjutor |
| Druggists (pharmacists) |
Cosmas and Damian |
| Dubrovnik |
Blaise |
| Durham, England |
Cuthbert |
| Dyers |
Maurice |
| Dying |
Joseph, Benedict, Abbot, James the Lesser, Apostle, Lebuin (Liafwine), Maximus, Nicholas of Tolentino |
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